A Short Affair, Now With Songs

By STEVEN McELROY

February 12, 2014

Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel “The Bridges of Madison County” slipped onto best-seller lists despite being ignored at first by many major reviewers. The unapologetically romantic tale of a lonely Iowa farm wife’s short, tempestuous affair with a photographer who passes through town, though, captivated booksellers and readers. There was a film version in 1995, too, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

Now comes the Broadway musical. Expectations are high for Jason Robert Brown’s return to Broadway. Mr. Brown, who wrote the music and lyrics, was last seen on Broadway more than five years ago with “13,” which closed quickly. “Bridges” has some advantages that could mean success: A book by Marsha Norman (whose “ ’night, Mother” may get a Broadway revival in 2015-16), and a luminous leading lady in Kelli O’Hara (“South Pacific”). Bartlett Sher directs, as he did last summer at the Williamstown Theater Festival, where this musical debuted. (In previews, opens Feb. 20, Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, 236 West 45th Street, Manhattan; bridgesofmadisoncountymusical.com.)